I love you Phillip Morris John Requa & Glenn Ficarra

Gay love is surprisingly not the main issue in I Love you Phillip Morris, a film based on Steve McVicker’s book of the same title. Jim Carrey and Ewan McGregor play a gay couple, and although we would expect such a duo to create lavishly comic entertainment, the two have actually managed to make their love seem completely natural, and serious. Credit goes to the talented actors who have handled their characters with great respect. The audience, however, might start to lose its orientation.

The film depicts Steven Russell (Carrey), a conman who alternates between jobs and commits plenty of credit frauds. Eventually he gets imprisoned, only to escape in several inventive ways. Along the way, Phillip (McGregor) becomes his partner, just to remind him that love doesn’t cost a thing…

The significant feature of Phillip Morris, which has probably caused its lack of distribution so far, is that even if there is a certain dose of humour, the film does not dwell upon it. In contrast, there are strong dramatic lines under the film’s Hollywood skin which are well-delivered, but unfortunately provoke a slight confusion.

This elaborate mixing of genres doesn’t end here, as Phillip Morris is also a based on a true story. Steven Russell, an ingenious fraud, took advantage of the bureaucratic blindness in the US to make his way up. Considering the fact that there aren’t any biographical signs until the film’s very end, it comes out as a forgotten note that what we saw was a biopic.

If there is a reference to Spielberg’s Catch me if you can, I’m afraid that what you would be trying to catch here is a theme. But, otherwise, the film stands out with courageous honesty.

Eftihia Stefanidi